Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 7.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[46] in the engagement, and by whom commanded. I have the honor to state as follows: At that time I was First Lieutenant, commanding the right section of an Arkansas battery, commanded by Captain George T. Hubbard, in Brigadier General Cleburne's brigade, Major-General W. J. Hardee's corps. About 10 o'clock P. M. I was moving on the right of General Hardee's lines with my section, when I came to a ravine and was about to have some trouble crossing, when I was met by one of Major-General Polk's staff officers, who directed me to move to my right to a road, in order that I might move forward without any difficulty, which I did, as rapidly as possible, and came into action on the left of Captain Bankhead's battery. My position being a bad one, in a dense thicket, I was compelled to fall back, followed by Captain Bankhead. I soon moved forward with my section, by order of Major-General Polk, when I was met and placed in position by yourself, with directions to throw some shot through a log-house and some spherical case at some bales of cotton that were in the edge of a field, where there was quite a number of the enemy concealed. At this time there was no other battery engaged at this point. Brigadier-General Ruggles then directed me to move to my right and throw some shell into a thicket across the field. I had fired but about three or four rounds, when a rifle battery replied to me most handsomely, and it being a little more than I felt disposed to contend with, General Ruggles ordered me to move my section up to my right, where I was joined by Captain Burns' Mississippi battery. I heard General Ruggles say that it was his intention to concentrate as much artillery as possible at this point, to prevent General Prentice from being reinforced from the river. As soon as I had replenished the limber-chests of my guns from my caissons, General Ruggles ordered me back to my former position. Captain Burns' Mississippi battery formed on my right. Captain Sweat's Mississippi battery or Captains Triggs' and Roberts' Arkansas batteries formed on my left. There were other batteries further to my left, but I am unable to state by whom they were commanded. The concentration of artillery at this point proved very effective. The reinforcements that were going to the relief of General Prentice not being able to withstand the shower of shot, shell and schrapnell that was poured upon them, fell back in confusion towards the river, which resulted in the surrender of General Prentice, with his division.

In reference to the concentration of artillery at this point. I feel assured that it was done by the direction of Brigadier-General Ruggles, from the fact that I saw him place other batteries into position besides my own, and his staff officers were actively engaged in bringing up batteries from different portions of the field.

I have the honor to remain, Captain, your obedient servant,